Overview
Swarthmore College is a private liberal arts school established in 1864. With a suburban campus spanning 425 acres, it has an undergraduate enrollment of 1,644 students as of fall 2023. The college follows a semester-based academic schedule. In the 2025 Best Colleges rankings, Swarthmore holds the #3 spot among National Liberal Arts Colleges. Tuition and fees come to $65,494.
At-a-Glance
- Setting: Suburban
- Tuition & Fees: $65,494
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,644
- Acceptance Rate: 7%
Swarthmore College Rankings
Here’s how Swarthmore stacks up in various categories:
- #3 in National Liberal Arts Colleges
- #5 in Best Value Schools
- #30 in Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs (tie)
- #30 in Economics (tie)
- #4 in Writing in the Disciplines
- #20 in Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects
- #5 in Senior Capstone (tie)
- #4 in Best Undergraduate Teaching (tie)
- #38 in Most Innovative Schools (tie)
- #25 in Top Performers on Social Mobility (tie)
Swarthmore ranks #3 out of 211 National Liberal Arts Colleges based on widely accepted measures of excellence.
U.S. News Overall Score: 97/100
- Outcomes (52% weight):
- Average 6-year graduation rate: 95%
- 6-year graduation rate (Pell Grant recipients): 90%
- 6-year graduation rate (non-Pell Grant recipients): 95%
Swarthmore College Admissions
- Acceptance Rate: 7%
- Test Scores (mid 50% range):
- SAT: 1460–1560
- ACT: 33–34
- Application Deadline: January 4
- Application Fee: $60
Admissions officers place high importance on GPA, high school class rank (if available), and letters of recommendation.
Tuition & Financial Aid
- Tuition & Fees (2024-25): $65,494 (above the national average of $51,147)
- Total Cost (incl. housing, food, etc.): $83,676
- Average Net Price (after aid): $19,344
Net Price by Family Income (2021-2022)
| Family Income | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $5,341 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $8,634 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $13,009 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $18,389 |
| $110,001+ | $50,474 |
- Room & Board: $20,308
Academics
- Student-Faculty Ratio: 8:1
- Small Class Sizes: 71.6% have fewer than 20 students
- Top Majors (2023 Graduates):
- Social Sciences (24%)
- Computer & Information Sciences (13%)
- Biological & Biomedical Sciences (9%)
- Mathematics & Statistics (9%)
- Engineering (6%)
- Freshman Retention Rate: 94%
Student Life
- Total Enrollment (Fall 2023): 1,644
- Gender Distribution:
- 51.6% female
- 48.4% male
- Housing: 95% live on campus
- Athletics: NCAA Division III
Campus Services & Safety
Swarthmore provides:
- Tutoring, women’s center, career placement, health services
- 24/7 security patrols, late-night escorts, emergency phones, controlled dorm access
- Alcohol permitted for legal-age students